Label-affixing mechanism.



F. 0. WOODLAND.

LABEL APPIXING MBGHANISM.

' APPLIOATIOHHLED MM5, 1910,

Patented Nov. 26, 41912.

2 SHEETS*SHEBT l.

F. 0. WOODLANDQ LABEL APFIXING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1910.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y lo frZw/erzfaz MZZZZESS E' wm@ fa, MV @QL FRANK O. WOODLAND, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. i

. LABELAFFIXING MEOHANISM.

Specification of Lettersiatenit.

lviateiitedNov. 26,1919.

Application led May 5, 1910. Serial No. 559,586. i y

To all whom it may concern: i lle it known that I, FRANK O. WOODLAND, a` citizen of the United States, residing at loi-cester, in the county of Torcester Yand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful LabelJAttiXing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more especially to tlfat part of a labeling machine whereby the labeLis, after its presentation, pressed on, smoothed dow'n -or caused to firmly adhere to the surface of the article to which it is applied; the prime object of my present invention being Vto provide a wiper or presser i means thatl is adapted for athxmg labels upon flat, concaved,paneled, or .othergshaped surfaces whereon a continued wiping movement is either inconvenient, impracticable .or undesirable: also to afford a means and mode of operation that can be successfully employed upon surfaces of the character above named.

Ano-ther object is to provide a label-affixing presser attachment adapted for employment in combination with the reciprocatively n'ioving` laterally oscillating-wiper: arms or levers in a labeling machine, and operatingl for the at'tixment. of the label by a continued directpressure. ora continued pressure and lslight, wiping ino-vement, in lieu of a full progressive wiping action.

Another object is to provide means for the lau-pose stated. whereby an increasing pressure is applied to the labetup to a degree of maximum pressure: and then etfecting a release of the pressure by a positive approxi? mately directy retro movement ot the presser elements.

vAnother object is to provide in combination with a reciprocating. laterally swinging wiper-lever or arm ot a wiper or presser element having a support in slidingconnection with the level' or wiper arm, and means` f r controlling the sliding' member for re'l I i) leasing thepressm'e upon the label by vfilial retro action. independent ot ine regular movement of the wiper arm.

', Minor objects and features of my invention are disclosed in the following description, the particular subject matter claimed ybeing definitely expressed in the summary.

In the drawings- (two sheets) Figure l represents a frontl view. of such ,parts of a labeling` machine as w1ll illustratethe nature of my invention; the presser 'or wiper ele-V,

ments being atpositions' for commencing their downwardm`ovement. Fig@ is ,aside view of theA improved mechanism.'l Fig. 3 is a` front view sho-wing'the wiper arms asv swung outward. Fig. 4 isa front view 'showmg t-hewiper arms or levers asator nea-1'" the limit 'of their downward movement, and the presser-s or wiper elements lifted from contact with the label. Fig.` 5 is a plan View showing vthe 'presser members, wiperarms, carrier-slide and supplemental controlling slidefand the grip-device, as in closed position. F ig. 6 is a'separate plan View of the rocker or tilting cam-levers.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the hinging ofthe atlixer y element or pad to the extension bar. Fig. S

illustrates a.l .modification adapted for .atlixing labels to paneled surfaces, ',andFig. 9

illustrates a modification adapted as `an inwardly-pressing wiper for convex surfaces.

The invention herein disclosed is applicable to labeling machines ofthe class described in my prior application for Letters Patent. Serial No. 461,028,r- Patent .No

998,664) and to other labeling' machines ot'- somewhatsimilar general character, and reference' may be had thereto for a more full understanding of such general parts of the labelingl machine as are not herein shown.

'lt is also applicableto,any labeling machines wherein a label-holder. a stationary supportin g rest. glue-applying pickers and l reciprocating laterally movable` wiper-carrying arms or levers are employed. y

Referring to the drawings. indicates` a portion of the main frame: B the supportingl rest upon which the article to be labeled 'is placed; t the glue-a}iiplving pickers; and D a bottom-delivcry,label-holder having means for supporting a pack-.of labels L thereon..

Said parts and their general operatingl means,1'1ot shown herein. may be constructed and arranged `as heretofore practised, rin any suitable manner.

F indicates the principal slide or carrier upon which the .atti-:ier mechanism. is supported. said carrier }-ueferably comprising a v sleeve or head arranged to move up and down on a suitable `guide or stationary rod All. and operated ,by a cau acting against a roller or stud f mounted on the side of the have la-teral oscillative movement for bring-y ing t-he atlixing p ressers or wipers 5 into closed relation, as 1n Figs. 1 and 5, or to "separated relation, as in Fig. 3.

The swinging action of the wiper-carrying arms, as shown herein, is controlled by a supplement-al slide-piece 6 movably'mounted to work in conjunction with the reciproeating carrier F. The downwardly projecting ears of the ywiper-arms or levers 2 are connected with this supplementary slidepiece by links-4, so that when the slide-piece is shifted inrelaticn to the carrier F in one direction, the links assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby swinging the wiper-carrying arms outward; and when said slide-piece is shifted in the other. direction the links assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thus causing the wiper-carrying arms to close together. By the transverse' straight alinement of the links 4 the arms or levers 2 are locked rigid in their closed relation until the slide-piece is again shifted. The slide-piece may be actuated by any suitable means in connection with the rod 7. Such.. means not being a special feature of my present invention, is not herein shown.

According to my present invention supportmg guides 10 are attached to theI arms or swinging levers 2, said guides being/disposed to stand in approximately upright positions when said arms or levers are closed together, (see Figs. 1 and 2) or in some instances to stand slightly inclined, outward or inward, as in Figs. 8 or 9.

Endwise movable extension bars or sliding members 12are mounted in or upon the respective' guides. 4Each of said bars is provided with an inwardly offset upper end or head 13, upon which the presser, wiper or atiixer element 5 is mounted. The structure and manner of mounting these aifixer elements may be modified or in some instances variedto meet the requirements of the work, or special forms of artlcles to be labeled.

vThe extension bar 12 is best of rectangular 12, toa suitable slayer hook at the end of a dmvnwardly projecting arm 16 fixed to the guiding head 10. The tension of said spring A,normally tends to draw the extension bar 12 "downward to its lowest limit, and is gaged to exert a force or tension equal to the minimum pressure requiredfor smoothing down the applied label by the atiixer element 5. The pair of guide-wayheads, pressers, eX- tension bars and springs are of similar form, but arranged in right and left order. The lower ends of the extension-bars 12 project some distance below the lower'end of theguides 10 and their-ends' are fitted for contact with cam surfaces. A cushioning bunter 11 of rubber, leather or other suitable material can, in any instance desired, be arranged between the guide 10 and extension bar, (see Fig. 41) for receiving the contactof the parts when drawn together by the force of the spring 14.

An important feature of myinvention is the provision in combination .with label-afixing element, of means for lifting or throwing off the wipers,'pressers or aifixing elements from contact with the package when the reciprocating carrier or wiper arms are at or near the end of the downward stroke, and without waiting forthe upward stroke to be effected; thereby giving ample time for the removal. and replacing of packages upon the rest. For effecting this result I provide, at suitable position below 4the guide-way heads 10, a pairvof rockers or tilting cam-levers 17, preferably mounted upon axis studs ,'18 fixed in a suit` able plate or bracket 19 attached to the fore end of the rest-supporting frame. The' rockers are made right and left to conform to the arrangement of the' a'fii'xers and wiperarm devices. Each rocker is provided with a laterally projecting member 8 for engagement with theextension bar 12, and with an upwardlyprojecting member 9 adapted for engagement with a roller-stud 2O carried upon the guide 10, or Vmoving with the Wiper-carrying lever. Said rockers are also each furnished with a lug or projecting member 21 that engages with a stop-lug", or lugs 23, fixed on' the pivot-supporting plate 19, for limiting the=swing movement of the rocker.4 The rocker .men'ibers or arms 8 and 9 are shaped to have suitable contact surfaces and together `form a tilting cam-lever for controlling the action of the presser or wiper element. The guide-way head is preferably made `with an attaching seat f2-l adapted for fitting upon the end of the Wiper-arm 2, and detachablysecured thereto by screw-bolts in a manner that permits ready removal and interchange of the guideway heads for other styles of wipers or af- -iixer devices.

The numeral 25 indicates a grip device that swings down upon the label Z as it is presented, adjacent to the article or package W, by the descent of the pickers; said grip device serving totemporarily hold the centra-l lpart of the label against the package, while it is stripped from the faces of the device is operated by a rocking movement of its shaft 26, which can be accomplished by' pickers C as the latter ascend. The gripmeans heretofore employed and as heretofore practised. y In the operation, the.' package or article i lV to be labeled is. placed upon the rest B;

the label is glued, taken from the labelholder and presented above the package by the reciprocating pickers in usual manner, and isthere gripped'by the grip-device 25. This is edected while the arms are spread apart as in l `ig. Ll. The' arms are then caused to close inward, bringing the presr ers or label-aixing elements over the label, indicated in Fig. 1. -As the carrier F and arms 2 move downward the elements 5 rest upon the label, compressing it against the surface of the package, while the guides 10, whichareattached to the arms 2, descend.` The bars 12 remain substantially statlonary, the guides moving toward the lower end of -the bars 12 under anincreas-` ing pressure of the springs 14 as the latter are stretched.' t SeeFig. 4.) sAs the guides 10 approach the limit of their downward movement the studs or rollers .20- are respectively brought into ontact with the upwardly projecting members 9 of vthe rockers or cam-levers 17, causing their laterally projecting'members 8 to tilt upward against the bars 12, thereby counteracting the pull of the springs 14e` and lifting the pressers 5 away fromjtheaffixed label, as indicated in Fig. ll, so that without drag of the aixing pressers uponthe label the 'arms can be oscillated out-ward toppen po.-

sition preparatory to performing their'upward movement. The top faceo of the laterally projecting member 8 is best formed as a curved 'cam-surface against which the end of thebar l2 can smoothly travel as the wiper-arms are swung outward,`while' the parts assume their primal positions.

Inv Figs. l to 5 the presser or wiper'element 5 is shown as a flat plate atlixer having a semi-elastic rubber facing, and connected with theoiiset'head of the extensionbar by a hinge-pivotlor axis-stud L that permits slight rocking movement of the plate; said construction @being suitable forv atlixing labels upon plain flat surfaces.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of my iii-- vention as adaptedy for aixing labels upon paneled or depressed surfaces. Thepresser or wiper element 5 has its face provided vwith a shoulder, orpconformed-to the conp vtour of the panel depression or surface..

vention adapted to act as an in-pressing wiper for convex surfaces. In this case the presser" or wiper element is formed of a flexible pad 35, and an overhanging metal guard of the desired shape,'is attached to the head of the sliding bai' l2. The bai' and guide 10 are disposed with a slight upwardly inward inclination. The ecct of this means is to give a primary wiping action' upon lthe' label while the wiper-head moves about halfv way, more or less, down the` side ofthe bottle or cylindrical surface lin; and then an inward lateral pressure toward the cylinder, with an incre'asingforce due to the diderential between the straight line ofl movement and the incline of the extension-bar sliding in 'the guide. In this modification, a solid foot-cam 37 is 'shown in lieu of a tilting cam-lever; but either form may be el'nployed.

lt will beunderstood that for labeling machines employing a plurality of pairs of wiper devices, as for body labels and neck labels, the hereinbefore described mechan'ism can be duplicated and applied to each pair' of pressers or wiper elements for operation substantially as above set forth.

Nhat I claim and desire to seeureby Let-'- ters Patent, is-

1. In a label-aiiixing mechanism, a pair of pressing wiper elements, an extendible supporter for each of said ele1'nents,-movv wiper-carrier and actuating means therefor,

a -guidingmeans for supporting said stem 4disposed upon the wiper-carrier'in position to assume the general direction of its wiping movenient,and a Atension-springl connected with the wiper stem for giving pressive' force to -the -label-smoothing wipermember, by resisting the lendwise sliding extension of the guides and supporting stem as the wiper-carrier is depressed.

3. ln'a label-aiiixin mechanism, the combination, with the aihxing wipers 'or pressers, a carrying means forsaid aitixing pressers having lateral movement for closing in and spreading apart the pi-essers, and reciprocat-ive movement' toI effect aiiix'ing action.

yieldable pressure-applyingsprings, and means for positively throwing off said aifixing pressers from the package'when the car- Erying-means approaches the end of'its downiward movement.

4. In alabeling machine, the combination, with ywiper-carrying arms, label-pressing wipers yieldably connected therewith, tension-springs for said label-pressing wipers, and means for operating the wiper-carrying arms; of anv independent means vfor 'throwing oftV the pressing-wipers from the p label without interfering with the wiper-- arm inoven'ient.

In a label-atiixing mechanism, a plu-4 rality -of label-aixing' pressers, means' whereby said pressers are carried `to and "from the work, and pressing force. applied thereto, anda supplementary throw-off mechanism for; moving the la-bel-atlixing Ipressers awayiffffom'contact with the label,

' independent ofthe carrier movement.

-v GQI'A'label-aiixing mechanism, vincluding presser-carryin' mechanism, yieldably supported `label-axing pressers adapted for applying pressure at fixed positions by downward' movement' of the presser-carrying mechanism, and means for relieving the pressure, said means brought into`action lapproximately at the end of t-he downward stroke of the presser-carryingmechanism.

.-7. In a label-aiiixing mechanism, a' pair of presser-devices for smoothing or pressing the labels upon' the package, carrier-means for saidvpresserdevices an actuating mech- Iani'sm .that operates said carrier-means' for moving the presser-devices to andfrom posioscillating si'ipporting'levers, guiding-,mem- 45- bers mounted thereon, slide-bars endwise movablein' said, guiding members and 'extendible therefrom, each of said slide-bars having an inwardly oiisetportiona. labelaffxer element 'attached to each slide-bar, a

tension spring connected, to resist extension movement ofi the slide-bar, and meansffor positively moving tlie slide-bars and. lifting,

` the label-aiixe-rs' as said'. supporting levers approach 'the limit-of their downward'movement;4

In a-label-aiiixing mechanism, a labelalia'iing`presser.-hingedly connected with its supporter, -an 'endwise' slidable $upporter 'having an offset head to which said presser' sois pivotally attached, a laterally oscillating t f 'the combination, witht'he vertically recip# rocating laterally moving wiper-arms, labelf.

wiper-arm, a guide *thereon* wherein sai -slidable supporter is mounted in vapproxi- "mately upright relation, a reciprocating car-y -rier on which thew1perarms are pivotally. -inounted, means for operating said carrier, l

mechanisimfthecoml and means mounted on the carrier for` 'controlling the oscillative-movemient of the wiper-arms, and devices that coact with said supporters for releasing the presser from the label when said wiper-arms areat a determined position before the spreading-of thev arms is effected.

10. In. a labeling machine, in combination with a stationary workssupporting. rest-,s

pair of'label-aiiixing elements carried there on, an intermediate extendible connecting means that affords an approximately direct extension between said carrying arms and "label-aiixing elements, springs that nerf mally resist the extension movement, and

means for positively counteracting theforce of said springs and retracting the label-ailixing element-s from the label when the carrying arms reach a predetermined position in their movement. j 'v n 11.- In a label-.aliixing mechanism, the combination, of laterally moving wiper-arms, a reciprocating -carrier having said wiper# arms 'supported thereon, guiding devices mounted on the wiper-arms, an extensionmember movablyl mounted in each guiding device, wipers or presser elements supported 'on said extension-members, va spring. conneeted with each'eatensioIi-member .for re-` tracti'ng'it to normal position and for coni trolling the pressure applied upon 'the label;

` rockable cam-levers for engaging and lifting the 'extension-'members to release the pressure,-an d' means for actuating said cam# levers at' Va -predetermined stageY .of the r e' ciprocative'carrier movement.

12. In ajlabehng machine, the combination, 4of a laterally moving wiper-arm, .a

directlyslida-ble extension member mounted i upon said wiper-armsand'carryingthe label.--

smoothing element, saidA element connected with ian 'oifset portion thereof,'a'nd ymeans ilo" for changing-the.' relation of said s lidable extension-member in respect tof the center vline of'the'wi er-arin. i 13.' In a 1a el-aiiixing mechanism,'a plair of' labelaiiixin elements, means' whereby said aixinge ements are carried Ito and while exerting their pressure .onthe label, and asuppl'ementary tl'irow-oil*4 mechanism 145.111 a`mechanism of the 'class described,

aiiixing elements, direct slidingmem'bersi whereon said label-affixing elements"' 'are mounted, andv iel'dable tension-- springs y from the work and downward pressure ap- L plied thereon, means for-imparting' limited .lateral movement tosaid'aiix'ing elements- 20, a pressingwiper comprising a straight non-rotatable sliding-bar,

Afor the purpose set forth.

15. In a mechanism of the class described, a label-aiixer element adapted forpressing a label upon a paneled or approximately fiat surface, an endwise movable slide-bar having an inwardly offset head, a guide for said slide-bar, means for mounting said slide-bar upon a wiper-arm, a hinging joint connecting said aHiXer element to said slidebar, the axis of` said hinge being approximately parallel with the plane of the aliixer and transverse to the line of the slide-bar, and a spring for ret-racting said slide-bar withi respect to the guide.

l16.- In a mechanism of the class described,

a yieldable wiperpad and guard attached to the upper part bf said slide-bar, aV guide in which said slidebar is mounted, said guide adaptedfor support upon a laterally and vertically movable `wiper-arm orV carrier-lever, and arranged to st-and at 'slightly inclined position guides while 1n relation to the line ofmovement, means for yieldingly drawing the slide-bar within the guide, and-means for arresting the downward movement of the slide-bar at a predetermined position, for'tliepurpose set forth.

,17. In a'mechanism of the class described, a: pair of oppositely disposed label-aixing elements respectively mounted upon endwise s lidable members that lare supported by guides which have l lateral and vertical movement, and connected thereto by contractile springs that givethe aixing pressure, said guides being disposed to stand in a slight oppositely inclined relation' to each other and tothe line of movement of said performing ltheir downward movement.

18. In a label-atfixing mechanism, in combiiiation with means for supporting an article to be labeled, means for gluing and presenting a label thereto, and a pair of-wiper-` arms, a grip-device for the temporary retention of the labels, a pair of label-smoothing pressers, each mounted upon an endwise slidable bar; guides for said bars attached to the Wiper-arms, tension springs for yield- .ably maintaining the slidable bars in nor- .mal relation to their guides, tilting cam-levers with which said slide-bars Contact at a predetermined stage of the movement, and means for actuating' said tilting cam-levers controlled by the wiper movement.

19. In a labeling machine, the combination with vertically and laterally 4moving wiper-arms or levers, taclied to said wipersarms, guide-ways thereon, right and left presserholding members slidable in said vguideways, ltheir ends projecting below and above the guides, pull springs connected therewith for downwardly retractiiig said presserholding members, inwardly projecting pressers or wiper-elements attached to oi'lset ends of said holding-members', rocking cam-y aiid ha ving levers pivotally fulcrumed to al stationary part on the frame,each'cam-lever provided with a'dlifter-arm, an actuator-arm and a stop-engaging projection, a contact means carried upon the guide-'vay head for tilting said cam-lever to lift the presser-holding members, and means that coacts with said engaging projections for limiting the tilting act-ion.

20. The combination, with `a stationary work-supporting rest, a bottoni-delivery label-holder, meansfor gluing'and transferring labels singly from said label-holder to a vposition above said rest, a pair of vertically-movable oscillating j guide-carrying arms and means for controlling the operation of said arms; of a pair. of guides respectively secured upon ythe guide-carrying arms, endwise slidable vbars supported by' said guides and having inwardly offset top ends, label-attixing elements attachedthereto, pull springs connected therewith for exerting downward pressure on the slide-bars and label-aiiixing elements, a pair ofright and left pivotally mounted rocker-.devices beneath said'guides, each rocker provided with a projecting member for engaging the .slide-bar, and with -a projecting contactmember, and` actuator means carried upon or moving with said guides, and coacting with said contact-members tor operating the rockers as the guides descend, for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 3rd day' of May 1910.'

FRANK o: wooDLANii.

Witnesses:

' CHAs. H. BURLEIGH,

A; G. Davis.

of guideway heads a-tj 

